Farmers' welfare body meets Ministers

The Pioneer, April 29, 2011
SUDHIR MISHRA, Balangir

A group of farmers and civil society members of different districts met the Ministera of Agriculture and Health in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to express concerns over the growing toxicity in the food system and demanded ban on use of hazardous pesticide Endosulfan in the food production system.

The exposure to this chemical poses great risk of contamination as has been noticed in numerous instances in the State. 'This chemical is linked to seizures and long-term effects like autism, delayed puberty and birth defects. There have already been reports of women having multiple abortions, sterility and other gynecological disorders," said Siba Prasad Sahu of the Lok Vikas Sangathan.

In Raisalpadar gram panchayat under Gaisilat block in Bargarh district, a discussion with farmers revealed that out of a sample of 118 farmers in one village more than 70 per cent have shown symptoms of mild hazards due to the impact of pesticide spray. A group of farmers from Nuapalli village of the same block said that at least 16 varieties of farm-fishes have died out due to the use of pesticides in farmland, said Sahu.

India is one of the largest global producers of Endosulfan and the supplier of 70 per cent of the world's Endosulfan with a market value of $300 million (` 1,340 crore). Out of the 9,000 tonne, India shares about 50 per cent of its production and is bought by the country's 75 million farmers making it the world's largest consumer of Endosulfan as well, he said.

The major categories of pesticides being used in Odisha without prescribed conditions are organo-chlorine, organophosphate and carbamate, mostly applied on paddy and vegetables. Endosulfan and Monochrotophos are highly used pesticides which are classified under the WHO Class-1a and WHO Class-1b hazardous pesticides, respectively.

Even if merely 10 per cent of farming in the country turns organic, there would be a net saving of`25,000 crore on subsidies for farm inputs and the State can save more than `350 crore. In other States like Andhra Pradesh, almost a million farmers in 2.8 million acres of land are engaged in growing crops without pesticides, Lok Vikas Sangathan leaders pointed out.

Besides Sahu, the group which met the Ministers comprised Natabar Sarngi, Prasant Mohanty and Pratap Pandey.